Carburetor



Sept. 24, 1940. H. A. HANSEN 2,215,697

CARBURETOR Filed 001:. 22, 19:58

'Fls. I

INVENTOR. FL HHNErH.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED s'rA'rss PATENT OFFICE CARBUBETOB Application October 22, 1938, Serial No. 236,430

- 4 Claims.

This invention relates to fuel systems for internal combustion engines and more particularly to devices that salvage gasoline, which would otherwise be lost from the carburetor, and return it to the fuel system.

An object of this invention is to provide means to collect the unused gasoline leaking from a carburetor and return it to the fuel system.

Another object of this invention is to provide means to carburet this salvaged gasoline and re-inject it into the fuel system in substantially the same proportions as produced by the carburetor proper in order that the performance of the engine will not be detrimentally disturbed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means to employ the unused gasoline leaking from the carburetor of an internal combustion engine to enrich the fixed mixture supply of fuel for a short period during the starting and warming up cycle in the operations of said internal combustion engine.

Still another object is to provide means to obtain economical operation of gasoline engines and at the same time provide means for collecting the fuel (gasoline or other volatile liquid) which drains back from the intake manifold of an engine when it stops, and to eliminate the fire hazards which are always present where gasoline wastage is allowed to collect in the bilge of a boat.

A feature of this invention is an auxiliary reservoir provided adjacent the present carburetor of an internal combustion engine.

Another feature of this invention is to connect the auxiliary reservoir by an air-bleed suction line with the intake manifold of the engine.

Still another feature is to restrict the suction line from the auxiliary reservoir to the intake manifold so that large quantities of uncarbureted gasoline or air will not be suddenly delivered into the intake manifold to disturb the normal function of the engine.

These and other desirable objects and features will be apparent when considering the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an arrangement of my invention as used on an internal combustion engine;

Figure 2 is an elevation in section taken substantially through the center of the auxiliary fuel reservoir or leakage catch tank;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing the restriction -in the suction line at the entrance to the intake manifold; and

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the carburetor, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, an internal combustion engine I0 is provided with an intake manifold I! to which carbureted fuel is supplied by a carburetor I4 having a drain tube I6 secured thereto at the lowermost point at which unused gasoline can accumulate; in this case the lowest point in the air horn l8. The drain tube l5 empties into a storage bowl or reservoir 20 from which the salvaged gasoline is drawn into the intake manifold i2 through a tube 22, details of which will be hereinafter described.

The drainage storage bowl 2!! is provided with a cover 30 into which is secured, and terminating substantially at the underside thereof, the drain tube l6 from the carburetor I4. Also secured in the cover 30 is an air vent 34 provided with a dirt trap 36 exterior of the bowl and extending as at 38 into the bowl proper.

The tube 22 is also secured in the cover 30 and extends within the bowl to substantially the bottom thereof.

Depending portion 40 restricted as at 44 at its lower end is provided with apertures 42 adjacent the under-side of the cover. Tube 22 is also provided with a restriction 46 at itsupper end, see Figure 3, at its entrance to the intake manifold I2. The reservoir 20 is also provided with a sediment clean-out plug 48 located in the lowermost portion of the bottom thereof.

In operation any gasoline that would drip from the carburetor of an internal combustion engine into the bilge, drip pan, or a sump depending on whether the engine was used on a boat, automobile or stationary mounting, would be drained by tube l6 and allowed to accumulate in the bowl 20 from which it is transferred by suction to the intake manifold I! through tube 22.

Tube 22 is provided with air-bleed apertures or orifices 42 of a predetermined size to properly admit sufficient air to be proportioned with the gasoline in order that a combustible mixture is obtained from the accumulated fuel drawn into the intake manifold. The restriction 44 at the lower end of tube portion 40 serves to assure that the proper amount of air will be taken into the suction line 22 through the air-bleed orifices 42, and to prevent too rapid flow of fuel to the manifold i2.

It will readily be seen that any gasoline that accumulates during a period of idleness of the engine will be drawn up by suction during the starting and warming up period of the engine operation and enriches the fixed mixture of fuel obtained from 'the carburetor proper, at a time when a rich mixture of fuel is extremely desirable. Also it will be seen that this arrangement will take care of a continuous leak from within the carburetor if one should occur during engine operation, and totally remove the possibility of what would otherwise be a serious fire hazard.

Venting of the bowl 20 is obtained through air vent 34 provided with a dirt trap 36 which prevents foreign substances from entering the bowl with the air and, it will be noted, the vent tube 34 extends materially into the bowl to prevent the liquid fuel from splashing out of the bowl through the vent due to vibration of engine operation or the mounting thereof.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an exhaust manifold, an intake manifold and an updraft carburetor including a float chamber and an induction passage, a fuel reservoir having a volume comparable to the fuel receiving volume of the float chamber positioned beneath the carburetor induction passage and at a spaced distance from said passage and from the exhaust manifold, a conduit having a relatively large length diameter ratio connecting the carburetor induction passage to the reservoir, and means connecting the reservoir with the intake manifold to remove unused fuel accumulating in said reservoir during periods of inoperation, said connecting means comprising a suction tube having a restricted outlet, a restricted inlet and an air bleed intermediate said restrictions.

2. A carbureting device for an internal combustion engine having an exhaust manifold and an updraft intake manifold comprising a main updraft carburetor to supply a combustible mixture of fuel and air to the manifold when the engine is running, a reservoir positionedbelow the carburetor and substantially spaced both from the carburetor and the exhaust manifold, a tube leading from the carburetor to the reservoir to conduct thereto fuel spilled from the carburetor nozzle during periods of inoperation, said tube having a sufficiently large length-diameter ratio to prevent flame propagation therethrough, and a second tube having a restricted inlet in the reservoir, a restricted outlet in the intake manifold and an atmospheric vent adjacent said inlet.

3. A carbureting device for an internal combustion engine having intake and exhaust manifolds, comprising an updraft carburetor to supply a combustible mixture of fuel and air to the manifold when the engine is operating, a fuel reservoir having a fuel receiving volume comparable to that of the main carburetor to receive fuel spilled from the nozzle of the carburetor during periods of inoperation, said reservoir being positioned at a spaced distance from said carburetor and exhaust manifold, and means including a restricted conduit to supply a mixture of air and fuel from said reservoir to the intake manifold when the engine is started.

4. In a fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, an updraft carburetor having a substantially horizontal air intake portion, a recess in the intake portion to collect fuel spilled from the fuel nozzle of said carburetor during periods of inop eration of the engine, a reservoir positioned beneath said carburetor, a conduit leading from said recess to the reservoir to conduct the spilled fuel thereto and having a length-diameter ratio sufliciently large to prevent flame propagation therethrough, and means connecting the reservoir with the intake manifold to remove fuel accumulating in said reservoir, said manifold and reservoir connecting means comprising a suction tube having a restricted outlet, a restricted inlet, and an air bleed intermediate said restrictions.

H. ALBERT HANSEN. 

